Thread: How many people would throw back a 13 incher

Originally Posted by BuckCreekMike

I'll throw back any under 17" ... therefore I've never thrown back a fish in my life! Just kidding, I usually let what I consider to be "big" ones (over 12" or so) back, but I have kept some that size. As a general rule I like to let 'em go, but I don't think it will do irreparable harm to a fishery. Maybe this points to my lack of skills, but I rarely catch many 13" at LOZ anyway, which is where I fish 90% of the time. It's a good moral quandry to have, to keep or release 13" fish!

I'd have to agree, you will not ruin the spawn by keeping large fish. There's so many factors that will have a greater effect. Lakes like LOZ and others with huge populations of crappie that are slow growing, it might be beneficial if Mother Nature would work her magic and have a limited spawn for a year or 2.

All those stunted crappie that died at smithville a few years ago may have been the best thing that's happened there in 20 years. (Wish that would happen at longview)!!!!

IF....and WHEN, and that's a BIG IF..... I catch a 13 inch crappie....There would be such ca-motion with the Dancing and Fish Kissing, pictures, measuring, weighing, more dancing, and pictures..... the the poor fish would be so embarrassed he would ask to not be put back in the lake.

Originally Posted by FROSTY

IF....and WHEN, and that's a BIG IF..... I catch a 13 inch crappie....There would be such ca-motion with the Dancing and Fish Kissing, pictures, measuring, weighing, more dancing, and pictures..... the the poor fish would be so embarrassed he would ask to not be put back in the lake.

please send photos of the fish kissing....

11 12 in good eaters 13 14 good eaters however prolly lot of fishers out there that have not caught any that size throw em back maybe you or i catch em again tommorrow maybe my granssons catch em?

Use to keep everything I hooked, 4 fish was a good day Now that I have had the opportunity to learn the lake, learn how to fish better, learn from guy's on here and fish with some great fishermen, I can now be more selective what I take home to eat. Have gotten spoiled to fresh not frozen so when I need a mess I keep 8 or 10 good eaters. Will keep a few for family but I don't fish for the whole neighborhood. Like the saying goes, take a man fish you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish you feed him for life. I will say most that say they throw back, fish tourneys as do I. It changes the way you fish good or bad it is to each his own. Good luck to anyone that loves this sport as much as I do.

That was good Frosty.

i dont have that to worry about most of the time more worred about been short after the live well for hours

Frost in about 5 weeks get in your car and drive to northern arkansas (2.5 hours away) and il put you on a 15 incher free of charge. Unless of course you are exaggerating but then again you might should just play it off to go fishing for free lol